Man, 18, faces theft charges after weapons call at Dartmouth mall

Small knife found on suspect but ‘there was never any firearm’: Police

One man was taken into custody after a weapons call this afternoon at Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

Police rushed to a Dartmouth mall at lunchtime Tuesday after receiving reports a man armed with a knife and a gun was inside a popular department store.

Officers were called to the scene at Mic Mac Mall at 12:34 p.m.

An 18-year-old man was taken into custody in connection with the incident. Police were unable to locate a second suspect who was reportedly seen with the other person, said Const. Pierre Bourdages, spokesman for Halifax Regional Police.

Bourdages said Winners/HomeSense, where the suspect was seen, was evacuated for several hours. The rest of the mall was not evacuated, he said.

The suspect was originally reported to be carrying a knife and a gun, but that initial report was wrong, Bourdages said.

When arrested outside Winners/HomeSense, the suspect had a small knife concealed in a holder attached to his belt. No gun was found, and the other suspect being sought by officers, including the canine unit, was not thought to be armed, said Bourdages.

“There was never any firearm.”

Bourdages said officers later determined the knife was held inside a proper holder, so the man wouldn’t be charged for a weapons offence. However, he was allegedly found with items from Winners/HomeSense and has been charged with theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen goods, he said.

Shopper Rob Smith said he arrived at the mall to see a number of police cars outside.

“They came out with a guy in his early 20s with shorts and a red T-shirt and he was handcuffed and they put him in the (police van),” said Smith.

Chris Keillor, general manager at the mall, said Winners would remain closed for a while while officers combed the store.